Homemade Watercolour Paints

Watercolour Paint Recipe

Ingredients
30 mL (2 tbsp) white vinegar
2 mL (1/2 tsp) light corn syrup
45 mL (3 tbsp) baking soda
45 mL (3 tbsp) corn starch
Liquid food colouring, various colours

Materials
Bowl with a pouring spout
Containers for paint
Spatula
Wooden craft sticks

Instructions

1. Combine white vinegar and light corn syrup in the bowl
2. Add baking soda and corn starch, and stir until the mixture is combined and stops fizzing.
3. Fill the container slots with 1/2-centimetre (1/4-inch) of mixture
4. Add food colouring to each section, and stir with wooden craft sticks until mixed
5. Allow the coloured mixtures to dry uncovered, overnight or until completely dry

Tip: Add an extra 2 mL (1/2 tsp) light corn syrup if needed, to make the consistency of the paint easier to handle.

Paint Container Ideas

• Candy or mint tin
• 7-day pill container
• Mini muffin tin
• Clear egg carton
• Small plastic ketchup cups
• Empty tea light tins
• Empty eye shadow containers
• Ice cube trays
• Old watercolour container

Tip: Reuse a heart-shaped Valentine candy box as a cute container for your watercolour paints. Save the moulded plastic insert to pour paint colours in.

Tip: To paint with homemade watercolours, simply use water and a paintbrush like you would with store-bought versions.

Travel-sized Watercolour Kit
Take watercolour paints wherever you go with a travel-sized paint kit. Create dividers with aluminium foil in a small candy tin. After paints are dry, attach a small paintbrush and tiny watercolour pad to the tin with a rubber band. Embellish the tin with a label or decorative elements if desired.